JOY Burch has announced that Mark Brown AFSM has been selected as Chief Officer, ACT Fire & Rescue.

“Mr Brown was selected following strong interest in the role and brings the relevant technical and management expertise required of the Chief Officer with over 30 years experience as a firefighter in Australia’s largest fire service, NSW Fire & Rescue,” Joy said.

“Mr Brown is currently responsible for capability development within Fire & Rescue NSW, the operation of two Triple Zero call centres, the NSW Heavy Urban Search and Rescue Task Force and over 7,000 Community Fire Unit volunteers. He has been responsible for extensive planning and command experience at major emergency incidents and natural disasters.

“He also brings a strong background in change management and governance in the fire services to enable active contribution to organisational leadership of the ESA.”

His experience includes a one-year secondment with the then Fire & Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia and the Executive Fire Officer Program at the United States National Fire Academy.

“I look forward to the opportunity that Mr Brown’s experience in other jurisdictions will contribute to the ESA Strategic Reform Agenda,” Ms Burch said.

“Deputy Chief Officer, ACT Fire & Rescue Conrad Barr will continue to act in the role until Mr Brown commences. I would like to thank him for his ongoing contribution in leading ACT Fire & Rescue and more broadly to emergency services in the ACT.”

Mr Brown will commence with ACT Fire & Rescue on 20 July 2015.